The 5 Books You Need to Read This Month

Cleopatra's Shadows

by Emily Holleman (Little, Brown and Company)

Just because one sister gets all the fame doesn't mean she was an only child. This riveting historical novel tells the story behind the story of Cleopatra through the POVs of her sisters, Arsinoe and Berenice.

Mothers, Tell Your Daughters 

by Bonnie Jo Campbell (W.W. Norton & Company) 

With grit and reverence, this story collection is gorgeous in its honesty. The characters: women with terrible partners or parents—or both—raising daughters and themselves up and out.

Gold Fame Citrus

by Claire Vaye Watkins (Riverhead) 

Meet Luz, a fading beauty struggling to survive. Government control of water, a wasteland formerly known as L.A., and, well, life have her heading for the hills with her boyfriend, but a third passenger, and plenty of mislaid plans, prove more disturbing than this dystopic reality.

Design by Katja Cho

Daydreams of Angels

by Heather O'Neill (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

This collection of darkly comic fairy tales, revela- tions, and cautionary tales packs punches. See: stories of young girls left to their own devices, unlikely friendships, and a different take on where babies come from.

Under the Udala Trees

by Chinelo Okparanta (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

If you've ever wondered if love can conquer all, read Ijeoma's story, set in Nigeria—her falling in love with another girl is problematic, if not illegal. The result: a stunning coming-of-age debut.

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